Ford will make its return to sportscar racing's top class in 2027 with a Hypercar - but it's only committing to the World Endurance Championship to begin with and not the IMSA SportsCar Championship that shares the same top-class eligibility.
As previously reported by The Race, Ford considered building its own car to the LMH regulations but has ultimately settled on entering via the LMDh ruleset.
ORECA is believed to be its preferred chassis provider of the four that are eligible under LMDh rules, although Ford's announcement of its Hypercar programmee did not disclose any decision.
Its commitment to the WEC will return Ford to the top class of endurance racing at the Le Mans 24 Hours - a race it claimed four consecutive overall triumphs in with the GT40 from 1966-69 and that "means more to our history" than any other, according to Ford Motor Company executive chair Bill Ford.
But Ford's announcement, made on Thursday evening in conjunction with Ford Performance outlining its 2025 racing programme in Charlotte, North Carolina, made no reference to the IMSA SportsCar Championship in North America, which at present does not appear to be in its plans.
Last weekend Ford won the GTD Pro class at IMSA's marquee event, the 24 Hours of Daytona, its #65 Mustang GT3 beating the #3 Chevrolet Corvette of Ford's rival American brand General Motors to victory.
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But although its rivalry with GM may not be rekindled in IMSA - GM is represented there by its Cadillac brand - this should still happen in the WEC where Cadillac and another of Ford's long-time rivals, Ferrari, are active.
This was noted by both Bill Ford and Pierre Fillon, president of WEC organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest, with Ford referencing not just the brand's outright Le Mans triumphs in the 1960s but also its win in the LM GTE Pro class on its return to the race in 2016 and Fillon calling the renewal of that rivalry "truly an exciting prospect".
Ford was originally involved in discussions about providing the engine for a McLaren Hypercar but, although that project did not come to fruition, both brands are still expected to have Hypercars in 2027.
McLaren, which will also enter via the LMDh rules, is expected to announce its programme at this year's running of the Le Mans 24 Hours.
The WEC's top class will feature eight brands this year as although Lamborghini has stepped back Aston Martin will essentially take its place, while in 2026 Hyundai Motorsport will enter via its luxury brand Genesis.
